Docking station apparatus for portable computer

Abstract

A docking apparatus for connecting a portable computer to an expansion device, comprises an elongated flat bar having two unitary stop bars at two opposite ends thereof at right angles for holding a portable computer therebetween. The stop bars have dowels on back faces thereof respectively fastened in holes on an expansion device for positioning, the flat bar relative to the expansion device. The elongated flat bar has two output terminals on a back face thereof respectively connected to two input terminals on the expansion device, and a plurality of input terminals electrically connected to the output terminals for connecting the output terminals of a portable computer to the flat bar.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A docking apparatus for electrically connecting a plurality of output terminals of a portable computer to a plurality of input terminals of an expansion device, said docking apparatus comprising: an elongated flat bar having first and second ends, a front face and a rear face;   first and second stop bars each having an associated back face, said stop bars being integrally formed with said flat bar and extending substantially perpendicular to said first and second ends of said flat bar respectively;   a dowel member extending from each of said stop bars substantially perpendicular to said back faces;   a pair of spaced, discrete plug units projecting from one of said front and rear faces of said flat bar for electrically connecting the docking apparatus to an expansion device; and   a plurality spaced, discrete socket units recessed within the other of said front and rear faces of said flat bar for electrically connecting a portable computer to the docking apparatus.